A bank manager has discovered a 9.07-carat diamond at a state park in Arkansas after picking up the precious gem thinking it was a piece of glass. Kevin Kinard, 33, made the discovery at the Crater of Diamonds State Park – where visitors can pay to scour for diamonds – on Labor Day.
It is the second-largest stone ever found at the park. While its exact value is unclear, the largest diamond found at the park – the 16-carat Amarillo Starlight – is thought to be worth $175,000 after being cut.
Kinard explained that he first visited the park on a second-grade field trip, and has gone back once or twice a year since. He last visited the park in May, but went back on September 7 after Arkansas parks launched a ‘passport’ scheme, where a visit to each park earns a stamp. ‘I went back because we wanted to get our passports stamped,’ he said in an interview.
He and his friends hauled sifting equipment out to the site, where visitors can pay $10 to search for diamonds, which has a policy of ‘finder’s keepers’. The park sits on top of an ancient volcanic crater, where the diamonds were formed millions of years ago. Kinard said he only used the equipment for around 10 minutes before deciding to walk up and down rows that staff plow through the soil using machines.
‘Anything that looked like a crystal, I picked it up and put it in my bag,’ he said. While searching in the southeast portion of the 37.5-acre diamond search area, Kinard scooped up a marble-sized crystal that had a rounded, dimpled shape. ‘It kind of looked interesting and shiny, so I put it in my bag and kept searching,’ Kinard said. ‘I just thought it might’ve been glass.’
Several hours later, Kinard said he and his comrades stopped by the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, where park workers identify visitor findings. ‘I almost didn’t have them check my finds, because I didn´t think I had found anything,’ Kinard said. ‘My friend had hers checked, though, so I went ahead and had them check mine.’ Upon having his finds assessed, an employee informed Kinard he had discovered a diamond.
‘I honestly teared up when they told me,’ Kinard said. ‘I was in complete shock!’ He has since taken the diamond back to his hometown of Maumelle where he has locked it in the safe of the bank where he works. He has not yet taken the diamond to be appraised, and says for now he just wants to ‘savor the moment’. He added: ‘I’m not sure what it’s worth, but I can’t do anything with a 9-carat diamond. My boss said, ‘You may be a millionaire. Are you going to quit?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not!’ I’m too young for that. I’d still work.’
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